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Top 12 Burglary Prevention Tips

A few tips to get you started on securing your home against theft and helping keep your neighborhood safe.

Lock up tight.

Have a home security evaluation.

Install a security system.

Double-secure windows.

Put away outdoor equipment.

Light your surroundings.

Consider getting a good watchdog.

Follow “safe key-ping” procedures.

Keep it real.

Be a good neighbor.

Start a neighborhood watch.

“Frost” garage door windows.

Lock your doors and close your windows even if you step outside for just a moment. Theft is a crime of opportunity.

If your car is parked outside your residence, bring your garage door opener inside. Otherwise, thieves can break in and use the opener to gain access to your home.

If your home can be accessed from your garage, keep the house door locked at all times. Otherwise, thieves can enter your home if they gain access to the garage.

Contact your local police department — many police departments offer free home security checks. A uniformed officer will visit your home and evaluate your locks, windows, lighting, shrubbery, alarms systems, etc. and then provide improvement recommendations. Follow through with these recommendations.

Your insurance company might also provide these kinds of services.

Consider equipping your home with a security system. Alarm systems can alert the police or fire departments directly, include a panic button and an outside alarm.

Read our article Buying a Home Security System to learn more.

Lock double-hung windows with key locks or “pin” windows by drilling a small hole into a 45-degree angle between the inner and outer frames, then insert a nail that can be removed.

Keep ladders and tools inside locked sheds or locked tool cabinets in garages. Otherwise, they could be used to gain access to your home.

Install motion detector lights to discourage intruders and highlight your home.

Make sure all entrances are lit with at least a 40-watt light.

Leaving town? Leave one light on and put others on automatic timers.

A dog (indoors or out) can also deter intruders if they are trained to bark at appropriate times. If you will be away, hire a trusted friend to care for your dog at your house instead of boarding it.

Give an extra key to a trusted neighbor instead of hiding it outside your home. Most burglars know the best places to find keys.

If you and your family will be out of town, have a friend or neighbor keep an eye on your house and pick up your mail, take out your garbage and shovel your driveway and sidewalk.

Take some time to get to know the neighbors in your area. Notice what type of vehicles they drive and pay attention to their routines. If you notice anything suspicious, call the police. The police would much rather check out a suspicious activity than to let it go by unreported.

The more eyes on the neighborhood, the less chance for a thief to be successful.

Use spray-on frost or frosted adhesive paper on the inside of the windows on your garage man-door and overhead door so thieves can’t see if your car is there.

Original Article Here: Top 12 Burglary Prevention Tips

Hiring the best locksmith in your place can provide solutions to your home security needs. Quick Locksmith Mount Prospect is just a call away from you!

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Why Deadbolts Are So Critical to Residential Security

Locks form the foundation of your home’s security, so it’s crucial to ensure that all of your locks are the best that they can be or you’re leaving your home vulnerable to invasion. Deadbolts are an integral part of this process, even though they seem simple.  

What Makes Deadbolts Different Than Basic Locks?

The knob or handle locks that are installed on most residences are only installed in the door itself, which makes them highly vulnerable to being broken if an intruder attempts to kick the door in or knock the hardware off with a hammer. In addition, most of these basic locks feature a spring-loaded mechanism that operates the pins, which is relatively easy for a criminal to defeat. If you’ve ever used a credit card to wiggle open a locked bathroom door, you’ll see what we mean.  

Deadbolt locks feature a solid steel bolt that extends from the door’s hardware into a strike plate that is installed into the door frame. As long as the door onto which the deadbolt is installed is of a sufficient quality material and sturdiness, deadbolts provide effective protection against brute force attacks.  

Types of Deadbolts

When we talk about deadbolts, we are referring to a few types of locks that fall under the same umbrella and feature the same basic security. You can discuss the options available to you with one of our professional locksmiths to assist you in determining which type is right for your property.

Single-Cylinder Deadbolt: A single-cylinder deadbolt is one that has is operated with a key on one side and a turn mechanism on the inside. When the key or the thumb-turn is operated, then the bolt inside of the door extends itself into the strike plate that is in the door frame. Single-cylinder deadbolts are the type most commonly found on residential doors all across Illinois. While single-cylinder deadbolts are easy to operate and provide a high level of security, it’s important not to install one on a door that has glass nearby. A savvy criminal could break the glass and turn the lock otherwise.  

Double-Cylinder Deadbolt: Double-cylinder locks are less commonly found on homes found due to safety reasons that we’ll discuss in a second. Double-cylinder deadbolts feature a lock cylinder on both sides, as the name suggests. This means that you need a key to open the door whether you’re inside of the building or outside. As you can expect, this can cause a significant fire hazard. To address this concern, it’s best to keep a key within easy reach of the deadbolt.  

Keyless Deadbolt: Keyless deadbolts are the wave of the future. While keyless entry was once reserved for vehicles and commercial properties, it’s steadily been gaining an advantage over manual locks and keys when it comes to residential security. Not only are keyless deadbolts safer, they are more convenient to operate, and there’s no worry about losing your key or having it be stolen. Keyless deadbolts feature a numeric keypad or a digital touchscreen, into which you input a specific personalized pin code.  

Jimmy-Proof Deadbolts: These locks, also known as Segal locks, are usually limited to apartment buildings in large cities and were more common several decades ago, but they’re sometimes used on other residential properties. These locks are added to the top of the door and include a vertical bolt that descends into a strike plate with rings on it. The bolt fits through the rings, holding the door firm.  

So Why are Deadbolts So Important?

Most security experts worth their salt recommend that all front and back doors on a home be equipped with deadbolts as long as the door supports it. You may be asking yourself why deadbolts are apparently so important. Why aren’t standard knob or lever locks enough? Is it just a matter of having two locks on the door for extra protection, or do deadbolts actually provide a significant edge?  

Since brute force attacks are the most common way that criminals gain access to a residence, deadbolts are vital to protect your home. It’s important to have a deadbolt from a high-quality brand. A deadbolt is much harder to defeat than a simple knob or lever lock. That’s because these locks are only installed into the door itself and can easily be knocked out of their place. It’s not enough to just have deadbolts on your door either if they are improperly installed or worn down. Replace your deadbolts every 10-15 years to ensure that they are operating optimally. High-quality deadbolts are an affordable way to better protect your home.  

Professional Locksmith Deadbolt Installation

Professional deadbolt installation is always recommended, as is the case with all types of locks. This is because deadbolts need to meet certain specifications in order to be considered properly installed. A professional locksmith can match you up with the perfect deadbolt hardware and install it quickly and efficiently at a low price. By investing the small amount in professional locksmith installation over doing it yourself, you guarantee that both the deadbolt and the strike plate are affixed appropriately and prevent vulnerabilities that are possible if you don’t know what you’re doing.  

The residential locksmith experts at Quick Locksmith Mount Prospect can assist you with all of your home security concerns in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Our locksmiths carry many types of deadbolts and other door locks that are resistant to tampering and picking attempts and can enhance the safety of your property. This includes the latest in electronic and smart deadbolts to give your home’s security the cutting edge now and into the future.  

By taking proactive steps to upgrade and optimize your home’s security, you’ll greatly lower your risk of ever having a crime occur on your property. A locksmith can assist you not only in the installation of locks such as deadbolts, but also in determining an individualized security plan for your home in order to meet your security goals, taking into account your budget and preferences. Don’t leave your home’s security to chance—you may just regret it.  

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What You Need to Know About Commercial Safes

Basics of Commercial Safes

A commercial safe is a part of a comprehensive business security plan, offering protection for your most valuable company assets and documents. Housing these items in a safe ensures that they will have the utmost defense against any form of criminal activity. By keeping your valuables, cash, and documents inside of a safe, they will stand the best chance of not falling into the wrong hands. While no available form of security is completely crime-proof, a high-quality commercial safe is an effective deterrent that you can trust. It’s especially important for businesses with daily customer interaction and cash handling to have a dependable, sturdy safe for keeping accumulations of cash and other important assets on a daily basis.  

Almost every business could benefit from having some kind of safe on the property, including:  

Banks

Bars

Entertainment Facilities  

Medical Establishments

Restaurants  

Retail Shops

Schools

Most types of commercial safes have customizable features to suit the needs of the business in which they will be used, including adjustable shelves and different sizes.  

Types of Commercial Safes

Many types of modern commercial safes are available on the market, all with their pros and cons. An effective safe keeps your assets fully protected while still keeping them nearby for convenient access. A professional locksmith can help you determine the proper safe that suits the particulars of your business, no matter what industry your work is involved with. The available types of commercial safes include:

Burglary Safes

Fire- and Water-Proof Safes

Cash Drop Safes  

Inventory Control Safes

Floor Safes  

Under Counter Safes

Deposit Drawer Safes

Different types and models of commercial safes feature various types of locking mechanisms. Modern safes usually have electronic combination or keypad locks or fingerprint locks for maximum security. The benefit of these locks is that they provide sturdy protection while offering you easy access. If you prefer, however, you can certainly choose a safe with a keyed lock. The preferences of the business owner as well as the needs of the business are important factors when it comes to choosing a safe. You don’t have to worry about cumbersome keys that can be lost. Most modern safes are constructed out of durable steel.  

Burglary Safes

Burglary safes are one of the most widespread commercial safe types. Burglary safes contain features that contribute to these safes being very effective at deterring theft. This type of safe is available in many sizes and dimensions, with various levels of locking mechanisms and security features. Most burglary safes are B-Rated, which means they have ¼ inch thickness on the body portion of the safe and a ½ inch thickness of the door. A burglary safe is a good basic type of safe for protecting your assets. There are many models of burglary safes on the market that are also fire-rated.

Fire-Rated and Water-Proof Safes

While most business and home owners worry about how to protect their assets from potential fires, water damage can be just as destructive. What most people aren’t aware of is that floods are the top natural disaster in the United States, and excess water has the ability to destroy your assets as much as fire. While these types of safes are most commonly found in homes, they can be beneficial to your business, too. Fire-rated and water-proof safes offer additional features that allow them to stand up to an excess of heat or water for a certain period of time. These safes are usually professionally rated by an independent company.  

Cash Drop Safes

This type of safe features a drop slot in which to deposit cash or other paper items like business receipts. The deposit slot is usually placed on the top, with an access door on the front to pull the accumulated cash out at a certain point, usually at the close of business for the day, to take to the bank. Cash drop safes are an excellent option for any business that handles a significant volume of physical cash, such as retail establishments, restaurants, and similar businesses.    

Inventory Control Safes

This type of safe is very effective in a retail establishment setting. It provides a protected place for your business-related assets while still keeping them close at hands. You can customize the features of your inventory control safe to suit the needs of your particular store. Access can be limited to only those employees who need to use the safe. These safes are an excellent option if your store carries limited amounts of high-end goods that need to be kept off of your floor. Inventory control safes include burglary-protection features that work as an appropriate deterrent against theft and break-ins.  

Floor Safes

Floor safes are less convenient to access, but provide a high level of security. Because of their discreet installation, they may go undetected by most criminals. A locksmith can assist you in determining whether a floor safe can be installed onto your commercial property.  

Under Counter Safes

Under counter safes are another form of depository safe, not just for cash but receipts, other financial papers, keys, and more. They are affixed beneath your business counter, and employ a front-loading slot into which you or your employees can make necessary deposits. Because of their discreet placement below your counters, they are kept out of sight.  

Deposit Drawer Safes

A deposit drawer safe is much like a deposit slot safe, however, the larger drawer allows for bulkier items to be deposited into the safe.  

For more information or to schedule the installation of a safe in Mount Prospect, IL, contact a professional locksmith company, such as Quick Locksmith Mount Prospect. The right locksmith will be able to provide you with a comprehensive range of business-appropriate safes, including all of the categories about. If you feel overwhelmed or otherwise unsure of which option would work best for your business, they can guide you into choosing the perfect safe type. The locksmith will assess the specifics of your property to determine the best place to put the safe, take measurements, and then deliver and install the safe in the appropriate location.  

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Security Options for Your Residential Property

The security of your home in Mount Prospect, Illinois, is one of the most important concerns on your mind. By doing what you can to implement increased protection of your home, you can rest easier knowing that your house is protected at its very best. A trained locksmith, such as those at Quick Locksmith Mount Prospect, will be able to provide advice and solutions to your residential security concerns and will be both knowledgeable and trained in the most current forms of security and their applications.  

Changing or Rekeying Exterior Locks

The locks on your front door and other entrances in your home are crucial safety components that form the basis of your lock security. Just like with any other foundation, your security is only as good as your base component, in this case, your locks. Locks can become worn out over time, especially with a high frequency of use, as is usually the case with most front door locks. Don’t take the locks you currently have for granted. Give them a thorough examination and evaluate their performance. If they appear worn or damaged, or you’re not sure of the last time they were changed, or your key sticks when using the lock, consider calling a professional locksmith for their opinion.  

Locks can either be changed for completely new hardware or the current locks can be rekeyed to fit new keys. They will no longer fit the old keys. Rekeying is a service that a locksmith offers that involves rearranging the pins and tumblers inside of the existing lock without having to actually replace the lock. It’s a preferred service when the locks you have are in good condition, but when you need the keys to be changed, as in the case of a divorce or a tenant change. Usually rekeying is less expensive than full lock replacement.  

Lock Installation & Upgrades

A locksmith can install new locks on areas that have insufficient lock protection, such as adding a deadbolt to a back door that currently only has a low-security knob lock. Locks can also be replaced with high-security hardware from quality brands like Mul-T-Lock that are much harder to lockpick or use bump keys with than traditional lock hardware. These locks are much more difficult to bypass than the standard locks installed on most homes in the Mount Prospect, IL area.   If your home has experienced a break-in, the existing locks will likely be damaged beyond repair. Even if not, your locks have proven that they cannot withstand attack the way they need to. In these situations, it’s important to have a locksmith take out the old lock and install not only a replacement lock, but also additional forms of security, like a single or thumb-turn deadbolt, to boost your security.

Window Locks

If your current window locks work poorly or are older than 10 years, consider upgrading or replacing your existing locks. Many window locks can be easily thwarted by a burglar. While upgraded window locks don’t guarantee that the burglar won’t just smash the window glass to gain entry instead, because of the noise and attention that action would cause, it is a far more unlikely possibility than the burglar just giving up and looking for a new target.  

Residential Safes

A residential safe can provide heavy-duty, unbeatable protection for the valuables you keep in your home. If you have expensive jewelry, fine artwork, valuable antiques, or other items that you need to keep under stronger protection than lock and key, consider the advantages of installing a residential safe. A locksmith can install and deliver many different varieties and sizes of residential safes, along with assisting you in locating the best spot in the home to place the safe for maximum protection. Most homeowners opt to install a wall safe, but there are other types of safes that can be installed in the home. Modern residential safes offer many additional features, including:

Fire-Resistance  

Waterproof  

Electronic Key System

Burglary Prevention

Additional Security Barriers  

Many factors should go into which residential safe you choose. If you are using the safe to house precious family jewelry, it would best to find one with extra security barriers to prevent anyone from bypassing the safe’s lock. If you are storing important documents, a fire-resistant and waterproof safe is the best option.  

Closed-Circuit TV Systems

You might not be aware that locksmiths have the capability to install and service more than just physical lock and key hardware. One of the installations that some locksmith companies can outfit your home with is a CCTV system. Many homeowners choose to install CCTV cameras, even if it is just one that is guarding their entrance, because they can monitor the comings and goings on their property at all times and be alert if there are any unwanted visitors. In the event of a burglary or attempted break-in, CCTV footage can be used by the police to help find the culprits. The very sight of a camera watching their every move can be a strong deterrent for most burglars.  

Smart Locks

Smart locks are the latest and brightest category of security on the market. If you are interested in upgrading to smart lock technology and giving your home an advantage in the future, you will want to find a locksmith like Quick Locksmith Mount Prospect that is capable of installing and maintaining these locks. Smart locks are a more expensive lock choice, however, that price is an investment that many homeowners feel is worth it to get the latest in technological security protection.  

Upgrading Your Home Security

If you are interested in beginning the process to upgrade the security of your Mount Prospect, Illinois home, contact a professional locksmith to discuss your options. A locksmith will be able to factor in all of the necessary information about your home, including your wishes and goals as the homeowner. Together, you can come up with a security solution that is perfect for your residence and your budget. There is no better way to make you sleep easier at night than knowing that your locks are doing their job of protecting your home.  

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Door Lock Parts: How to Identify and Replace

Don’t risk the security of your home by keeping non-functioning locks for the sake of saving money. There are many door lock parts that you can actually repair and replace on your own, without having to call a locksmith.

Latches

A latch is the portion of a door lock that extends into the door frame through the strike plate. Often, latches may be sticky, broken, or ineffective. When changing your latch, you may want to consider a flexible latch for a deadbolt or a positive locking latch for added security since standard latches can be forced open easily.

You cannot usually buy latches individually at a standard home improvement store, but you can find them online or at a specialty store such as a locksmith’s store. If you want to replace a latch, bring the old one with you, or make sure you know the model number and style of the old latch.

Strike Plates

The strike plate is the part of the lock that attaches to the door frame. The latch goes through the strike plate to form a secure lock or positive closure to the door.

Strike plates come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The opening on these plates may be rounded, squared, or flat on one side and rounded on the other, depending on the shape of the latch that goes into the strike plate. The exterior shape of the strike plate varies according to the decorative features of the door lock, but this is less important to the function of the lock than the interior shape.

The strike plate is the easiest portion of the lock to change, since it requires only two screws to mount it to the door frame. Strike plates are similar to latches in that they are generally not sold separately, but rather as parts of a lockset at big box stores. However, specialty hardware stores and online retailers will have them available separately. Make sure that the style of your strike plate will match up with your latch before purchasing.

Cylinders

The lock cylinder is the meat of the door lock. The cylinder is the part that contains the “code” for the key and determines whether the door locks and unlocks.

If you need a new lock because you lost the key to the door, you may opt for re-keying the cylinder rather than replacing it. If a cylinder is sticking, has a key broken off in it, or is damaged, then you may need to replace the cylinder entirely rather than simply re-keying.

To re-key a cylinder, you will need to purchase a brand-specific re-keying kit. They are available for about $8, and they will re-key six locks each. If you have only a single door that needs to be re-keyed, calling a locksmith may be a good choice. However, if you have multiple doors, then the do-it-yourself option is a good one.

If you decide on cylinder replacement, then visit a specialty lock store, do an internet search, or contact the manufacturer directly. You are also more likely to have success replacing the cylinder on an expensive lock set than on a cheaper one.

Original Article Here: Door Lock Parts: How to Identify and Replace

Related Article Here: How to Replace a House Door Lock

Do you need a professional help with your lock replacement? You can always turn to Quick Locksmith Mount Prospect for trusted and reliable locksmith service!